Getting a Single Mortgage When You’re Married
Combining all financial ties in marriage isn’t for everyone. There are often good reasons not to, which is why 59 lenders consider it, and 20 specialise in this type of mortgage. We guarantee to get your mortgage approved and find you the best deal. If we can’t and someone else does, we’ll give you £100!*
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Author: Pete Mugleston
CeMAP Mortgage Advisor, MD
A Quick Summary
Yes, many lenders require married couples to both be on the mortgage, but at least 59 lenders from the whole market will consider it, and 20 lenders are specialists with it.
In general, the lenders that decline this do so for 2 main reasons because the partner not on the mortgage:
- Poses a risk for the lender’s ability to repossess should they need to
- There’s suspicion they might have bad credit or some other reason that would otherwise have led the lender to not offer the mortgage in the first place – and because they live there and are married, essentially, they are carrying the risk of that person without the security of knowing who they are.
For this reason, some of the lenders that are happy to do it, still decline if the reason is because of their credit history. Of course, our experts work with lenders who are not concerned about this, and often, there are plenty of options, whatever the reason might be.
In all cases, lenders will want a standard “consent to mortgage” form signed by the person not on the mortgage to confirm they understand the lender will repossess the property and they can’t block it.
Our team do a lot of these mortgages, so reach out to discuss your options!
Can you get a mortgage in just your name if you’re married?
Yes, of course. While most lenders prefer that couples who are married or in a civil partnership take out a joint mortgage, there are many valid reasons why you may want one independently of your spouse or civil partner.
Your choice of lenders might be reduced in these circumstances, but there are specialist mortgage providers who will be able to accommodate your needs.
However, before you move forward with a solo mortgage application, it’s important to understand that it may not always be necessary to opt for a mortgage in your sole name. In many scenarios, applying jointly with your partner can be beneficial, even if you’re concerned that their circumstances will negatively impact the application.
Get expert advice if…
Speak to one of our advsiors if any of the following apply to you:
- You’re married and want a mortgage in just one name
- You or your partner have bad credit
- Either one of you already owns a property
- You’re applying jointly, but only one person is paying the deposit
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Below, we’ll take a look at some of the most common reasons that people may want to take out a mortgage independently of their partner and whether it’s beneficial for them to do so.
Many lenders require both spouses to be listed on a mortgage application. However, the good news is that some lenders are open to accepting sole applications from married individuals. It’s important to note that some of these lenders will reject applications if the sole application is due to the other spouse having adverse credit.
This makes it essential to work with a mortgage advisor who thoroughly understands each lender’s criteria and can guide you to the most suitable options.
A bad credit record will not necessarily mean that your partner has to be left off the mortgage. Depending on the significance and age of their credit issues, it can be perfectly possible to attain a joint mortgage with a specialist bad credit lender with the right guidance.
Being unemployed doesn’t usually mean your partner shouldn’t be included on the mortgage. On the contrary, some lenders may consider their future income as an asset, especially if they’re unemployed temporarily and have a professional career to return to.
If your partner receives any benefits, some lenders will consider certain benefits as income for mortgage purposes. This means you could increase your affordability if you apply jointly with them, even if they are out of work. It’s simply a case of seeking the right advice.
A low income is better than no income. Unless your partner’s outgoings are higher than their income, getting a joint mortgage with them could still be beneficial, as you are likely to be able to borrow more together than you could individually.
If your partner already owns a property, they can still be included on a separate joint mortgage with you, provided they meet the affordability criteria. However, they should also bear in mind that this would make them liable for the higher rate of stamp duty (an additional 5% on top of the standard rate), given that the new property would be classed as their second home.
If your partner’s existing mortgage is a buy-to-let, it could make the process a little easier, as affordability is not such an important factor with this type of mortgage. If it’s currently residential, they could potentially switch it to a buy-to-let or let-to-buy mortgage.
If your partner is not contributing towards the deposit, this does not automatically mean that you cannot buy a home jointly with them.
Although not all lenders are happy with one partner paying the entire deposit, some will allow this if a deed of trust is created to protect your investment. A broker can recommend a suitable solicitor to provide legal advice on this.
Suppose the property you’re planning to purchase is a buy-to-let or similar investment property. In that case, certain tax benefits are associated with doing so in one name. In these circumstances, lenders are often much more willing to accommodate a solo application from a married person.
In this scenario, you may want to keep the property and simply remove your partner’s name from the mortgage, which can be done through a transfer of equity and submission of a new mortgage application solely in your name.
If the house is to be sold, you can wait for this to be completed and then submit a new mortgage application for another property.
Key criteria you'll need to meet
The following are some of the key criteria lenders will look at when considering this type of mortgage. If you’re unsure whether you meet any of these criteria, speak to one of our brokers to see how we can help.
- Is there a clear justification for a sole mortgage application?
- Do you have any adverse credit?
- Are you living in the property?
- Are you being "gifted" a deposit?
Being married doesn’t mean you have to apply for a joint mortgage. In some cases, taking out a mortgage in just one partner’s name can make more financial or practical sense—here’s how it works.
The key to determining whether you’re better off getting a mortgage on your own or with your partner is getting the right advice early on in the process. A mortgage broker with plenty of experience arranging mortgages for married applicants in their sole name will be best placed to help you.
They’ll be able to offer bespoke advice about which option would be most beneficial in your exact circumstances. They can then either help you access a lender who will accept your solo application or help you find a lender who can provide a joint mortgage, taking into consideration any concerns you may have about your partner’s mortgageability.
Get in touch to be matched with one of the expert brokers that we work with.
Based on the advice from your mortgage broker, you should be able to make an informed decision about whether you would prefer to proceed with a mortgage in your sole name or apply for a joint mortgage with your partner.
This will give you an idea of the documentation you need for your application. Preparing your proof of income and credit records in advance will always be beneficial.
Once you have the necessary documentation to support your application, you can ask your broker to obtain a decision in principle (or agreement in principle). This mortgage pre-approval provides a more accurate idea of the amount you’ll be able to borrow, which can help you narrow your search.
A decision, in principle, is also increasingly required by estate agents to make an offer on a property.
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Some of the questions lenders might ask
When applying for a single mortgage when married, these are the types of questions you can expect to encounter from lenders. If any of these apply to you, speaking to a broker can help get your application on the right track.
- What is your reason for applying for a sole mortgage despite being married?
- Will your spouse be residing in the property, and if so, are they aware of their occupancy rights?
- Is your spouse contributing deposit?
- Are there any financial or credit issues with your spouse that influence this decision?
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Things to consider
If you’re married or in a civil union and plan to purchase a buy-to-let or commercial property, you’ll probably benefit from taking out a mortgage in your sole name.
If you’re planning to buy a residential property independently, however, it’s important to consider the following drawbacks:
- Your choice of lenders will be smaller, given that many, especially high street banks, will be unwilling to provide you with a sole mortgage if you are married or in a civil union.
- If your partner is not included on the mortgage deeds, the lender cannot include their income on your application, which usually means you won’t be able to borrow as much.
- Your partner will likely be viewed as a financial dependent if they are not contributing to the mortgage, which could impact your affordability.
- If your partner contributes towards the deposit but is not included on the mortgage, fewer lenders will accept your deposit, as it would be deemed gifted. It may be possible to overcome this by asking your partner to sign a waiver of rights to the property, but not all lenders will allow this. It’s essential that you seek advice from a broker if you’re looking for this type of complex arrangement.
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Whatever your needs and circumstances, we can match you with an expert broker with plenty of experience. If you’re concerned about how your partner’s credit history could affect a joint application, we can contact a broker who specialises in bad credit mortgages.
If you need a lender who will consider a gifted deposit from your partner, we’ll introduce you to someone with experience in that field.
Whether you eventually decide on a solo or joint application, the trusted whole-of-market brokers that we work with will know which lenders can help. Their strong working relationships in that field will ensure that they get you the best rates possible for your circumstances.
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FAQs
It depends entirely on your circumstances, if you’re married or in any form of relationship with someone who you’ll be sharing a mortgage and home with, they may be considered a dependent if they have no income, which can affect your affordability.
Of course, getting a mortgage with two incomes rather than one is typically easier from an affordability perspective, but whether you’re married to the other applicant won’t make it any easier or harder than if you’re an unmarried couple.
There is no legal obligation for you to inform your mortgage lender if your partner moves in with you, however, if you have married or formed a civil union with that partner, it may be best to do so as they will automatically inherit some level of ownership, even if they are not contributing to the mortgage.
If you’re married or in a civil union, you have a legal right to reside in their property and own a share of the property whether you contribute to the household or not. You won’t always own 50%, but this is a key area to discuss with your partner and a solicitor.
If you’re cohabiting, you currently have no automatic legal rights to the property if it’s in your partner’s sole name. It’s possible to have a cohabitation agreement drawn up, which will offer you some legal protection if you were to contribute to the household for a certain period and then move out, for example.
If you get divorced from the person you have a joint mortgage with, it’s possible to do a transfer of equity to have the mortgage changed into just your name. However, you’ll need to be able to afford to buy out your partner and prove that you can afford the remainder of the mortgage repayments on your sole income.
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Pete Mugleston
CeMAP Mortgage Advisor, MD
Pete, a CeMAP-qualified mortgage advisor and an expert in all things mortgages, cut his teeth right in the middle of the credit crunch. With plenty of people needing help and few mortgage providers lending, Pete successfully went the extra mile to find mortgages for people whom many others considered lost causes. The experience he gained and his love of helping people reach their goals led him to establish Online Mortgage Advisor, with one clear vision – to help as many customers as possible get the right advice, regardless of need or background.
Pete’s presence in the industry as the ‘go-to’ for specialist finance continues to grow, and he is regularly cited in and writes for both local and national press, as well as trade publications, with a regular column in Mortgage Introducer and being the exclusive mortgage expert for LOVEMoney. Pete also writes for Online Mortgage Advisor of course!
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